Moving to a 10-Acre Property
When we moved onto our 10-acre property in late 2020, we didn’t have a proper lawn mower. The only tool we owned was a manual reel mower—the kind you push by hand. It worked fine for the small backyard at the house we rented before buying this property, but it was clear it wasn’t suitable for our much larger yard. One spring day in 2021, my wife asked if I really planned to push the reel mower across our 1.5-acre front yard. Naturally, my response was, “Of course not!”
Choosing the Right Lawn Mower
We quickly realized we needed a reliable, rideable mower to handle the larger space. After researching various options, we looked into well-known brands like Kubota and John Deere. Ultimately, we decided on the Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50. It offered a good combination of power, features, and affordability that matched our needs. By spring 2021, the Cub Cadet had become part of our outdoor equipment lineup, ready to take on the challenges of maintaining our lawn.
Putting the Cub Cadet to Work
Since bringing the Cub Cadet home, we’ve used it every week from May to October to keep our yard in check. Mowing at least 1.5 acres regularly, I quickly learned that maintaining a mower of this size takes effort. Tasks like oil changes, blade sharpening, and deck adjustments are essential for keeping it running smoothly. Despite the upkeep, it’s been a reliable tool. It handles the front yard with ease and even helps me cut trails through the goldenrod-filled meadow in the back of our property.
Addressing Its Quirks and Challenges
Although the Cub Cadet performs well overall, it does have some challenges. It struggles a bit on steep hills, and the belts wear out relatively quickly with heavy use. I also learned a valuable lesson when I accidentally drove over a hidden tree stump, which caused the deck to tilt and led to uneven grass cutting. Thankfully, I figured out how to fix the deck alignment, and now it works perfectly again. These experiences have taught me a lot about mower maintenance, and I plan to share tips on these topics in future blog posts.
Maintenance Made Easier
One of the things I appreciate about the Cub Cadet is how easy it is to handle routine maintenance. Changing the oil is a straightforward process, and the fast-attach blade system makes replacing blades quick and simple. These small conveniences make regular upkeep less intimidating and help extend the life of the mower. I’ll be sharing more about these maintenance tips in upcoming posts for anyone looking to keep their mower running like new.
A Look at the Technical Side
Now that I’ve shared my personal experience with the Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50, let’s take a closer look at the technical details. Understanding what makes this mower unique and how it’s designed for medium to large properties can help anyone decide if it’s the right fit for their needs. Stay tuned for more insights!
The Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 is a lawn mower designed for homeowners who need to maintain medium to large lawns. It comes with a wide 50-inch cutting deck, which means it can cut a large area of grass in less time. The mower is powered by a 24-horsepower engine, giving it the strength to handle most types of grass and even mild hills. Instead of manual gears, it uses a hydrostatic transmission, which works like an automatic car, making it easier to operate.
What Makes It Good
The Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 has several features that make it a great option for cutting grass. Its 50-inch cutting deck is very durable and cuts the grass evenly, even with frequent use. The powerful 24-horsepower engine ensures the mower performs well, even in tougher conditions like small slopes or thicker grass.
The mower is also very user-friendly. It has a tight turning radius of 16 inches, which allows you to maneuver around obstacles like trees and garden beds. Comfort features such as a high-back adjustable seat with armrests, cruise control, and rubber floor mats make long mowing sessions more comfortable. Cleaning the mower is simple because of the deck wash port, which lets you attach a garden hose to easily rinse the deck. Additionally, the mower can be customized with attachments like a mulching kit (to turn grass clippings into natural fertilizer) or a snow blade (to clear snow during winter).
What Are the Downsides?
Although the Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 has many strengths, it also has some limitations. Its hydrostatic transmission may not perform well on very steep hills or when pulling heavy loads, so it’s not ideal for challenging terrain or tasks like snowplowing. Some users have reported issues with certain parts, like the fuel pump or electrical system, failing earlier than expected.
The mower weighs 470 pounds, which is lighter than similar models. This might make it less durable when used on rough or uneven ground. Accessories like the mulching kit or snow blade are not included with the mower, which adds to the overall cost if you want those features.
Common Issues and Maintenance
Googling around some handyman and mower forums I’ve found that some common problems with the Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 include difficulty starting, uneven cuts, or trouble with the transmission. Starting issues can happen because of faulty fuel pumps, clogged filters, or electrical problems like loose connections. Uneven cuts are often caused by dull blades, grass buildup under the deck, or improper deck leveling – which happened to me due to a hidden wood stump in the meadow.
How Much Gas Does It Use?
For large properties like 10 acres, the gas usage of this mower is an important factor. Under normal conditions, it uses about 1 gallon of gas per hour. With its 50-inch cutting deck, the mower can cover 2 to 3 acres per hour. This means it would take 4 to 5 hours to mow 10 acres in one session, using about 4 to 5 gallons of gas. If you mow once a week during a 25-week growing season, you could use 100 to 125 gallons of gas in a year. At a gas price of $4 per gallon, this would cost around $400 to $500 annually.
The Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 is a reliable and comfortable lawn mower that works well for medium to large lawns. Its wide cutting deck, powerful engine, and user-friendly features make it a good choice for residential use. However, if you have very large properties, very steep slopes, hilly areas or heavy-duty tasks, this mower may reach its limitations. But as always, make sure to maintain proper maintenance because that can help you avoid common issues and keep the mower running smoothly for years. For now the Cub Cadet XT2 SLX50 Riding Lawn Mower has served us and our property quite well.